River Valley Civilizations Flashcards
Theocracy
Government headed by religious leaders
Cultural diffusion
The spread of cultural beliefs
Culture
Arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement
Polytheism
Worship of many gods
Dynasty
Ruling family
Monarchy
Government headed by king or Queen
Monotheism
Worship of a single God
Pyramid
Monumental structures in Egypt
Hieroglyphics
Written communication
Shang dynasty
Ruled in yellow river valley
Characteristics of civilization
Cities, central government, traditional economy, organized religion, specialized jobs, system of writing, public works, art, and social classes
Another name for the fertile cresent
Mesopotamia
Effects of natural barriers
Protection, hinders travel through or over
Basis of the economy is early river Valleys
Yellow river
Indus
Nile
Mesopotamia
Results of producing a good surplus
Barter economy, artisans and merchants
Why early people were nomadic
Following herds, didn’t know how to farm
Changes caused by results of the Neolithic revolution
Invention of wheel, metal tools, calendars, more complex ideas about gods, tamed fire
Reasons for mummification
Belief in the afterlife
Basis of hammurabis coke of law, was it fair? Why or why not?
No, it wasn’t fair to slaves or women
Early Chinese religious practices
Ancestor worship
Mandate of Heaven
Allowed dynasty to rule as long as they did it wisely and morally
Dynastic circle
New dynasty-> New becomes aging-> Aging dynasty^
Social class organization
King
Government officials, military leaders, priests
Merchants and artisans
Farmers
Slaves
Prehistory
The period of time before written records
